1. Welcome to 5 th Grade! Mrs. Lowdermilk Room 26

2. Contact Information Please contact me when ever needed! Working together is how we help each child succeed! Oak Meadows Elementary School 951-246-4210 Rm 26 28600 Poinsettia Street Murrieta, Ca 92563 mlowdermilk@menifeeusd.org Email is the best way!

3. Communication Friday Updates emailed weekly Class website Twitter account - @LowdermilkMrs Facebook account – Mrs. Lowdermilk’s Class Remind 101 – text messages Email Thursday Folders Daily Planners ~ Sign every night *Please make sure I have a working email for you before you leave today!*

4. Absences and Thursday Folders Absences: Please try your best to have your child miss very little school. Your child can’t learn all that he/she needs to if they are not here. If an absence should occur, your child will be required to make up any graded work that was completed while he/she was out. He/she will have to complete the work during extra class time, recess time, or in some cases at home. Since the work is graded I do try to make sure it is completed at school. (Rewards for perfect attendance November and March by Kona Ice ~ Monthly class pizza parties ~ year end trophies) Thursday Folders: Each Thursday your child will come home with his/her Thursday folder. In it will be all of the past week’s graded work as well as any non-date sensitive flyers. Please check this folder and the graded work inside and use it as a tool to understand how your child is doing in class. Take all the work and flyers out of the folder, sign that you received it and return it empty on Friday.

5. Class Schedule Daily Schedule 7:40-8:00 Morning Work/Hawk Talk 8:00-9:50 Language Arts 9:50-10:08 Recess (9:30-9:40 Wed) 10:08-10:45 Cont. Language Arts/PE on M-W-F 10:45-11:45 Math 11:45-12:30 Lunch (11:30-12:15 Wed) 12:30-1:00 Social Studies 1:00-1:50 Science 1:50-2:04 Class Business/Pack Up Wednesday dismissal – 12:25 p.m.

6. Homework Homework will be lighter than usual! I strongly believe that a student should not be given an assignment to complete at home unless they have mastered it in the classroom. With this being said, I do assign 30 minutes of reading nightly. They are required to take 5 AR tests each semester- so don’t forget to remind them to test on these books once they have finished them! All books must be approved by the teacher. For math, once I feel confident that the students are ready to do some independent practice at home they will have a few (1-4) problems as homework. Your child will be expected to study for upcoming tests. This will be noted in their planner as well as on the class newsletter.

7. Classroom Management Dojo Points: When your child is caught making excellent choices he/she will receive a dojo point. This is an online behavior tracking program in which you will be able to access to see how they are doing daily. Please make sure to follow the sign in direction sheet that went home on the first day of school. At the end of each semester, the students will cash out their points for rewards and return back to a zero balance. Super Kids: At the end of each day, the student receiving the most amounts of dojo points will be Super Kid the following day. This student will earn the rolling “teacher” chair for the day. Every month I will draw 4 names from everyone that was super kid during that month and those for lucky students will get to eat lunch with me. *In addition to Dojo points and Super Kids, I try to recognize each individual’s needs and may set up a personal goal/reward system for those children in need of this extra positive reinforcement. Red Tickets: Students can also earn tickets for great behavior, awesome answers, being leaders, etc. These tickets go into a box and I will pull 2 tickets every Friday for a chance to pic from the prize box.

8. Classroom Management Time to Think Forms: Occasionally, when a student is not able to be redirected after a few verbal directions, he or she may be given a time to think form. The student will complete the time to think form and I will email you informing you of the incident. The time to think form will be filed here at school. If a child receives three time to think forms in a 6 week period, he or she will be given a letter home along with a win- win contract for the two of you to fill out. At this time we will have communicated several times and together we will set up a plan for your child to be successful. All Time to Think Forms are emptied from the binder at the end of every 6 week period, giving the student a clean slate.

9. The Leader in Me 7 Habits This year we as a school are starting The Leader in Me program. This is an amazing program where students will learn many successful life skills to help them become leaders in their own life and in their careers. The program focuses on using the 7 Habits of Healthy Kids to reinforce learning how to be leaders. You will begin to see and hear your child using the habits and its phrases even at home! Due to this, I felt it was important for you to learn them too! So here they are: Habit 1: Be Proactive I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my mistakes. I can only be offended if I choose to be. Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision, and look for ways to be a good citizen. Habit 3: Put First Things First I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.

10. The Leader in Me Habit 4: Think Win-Win I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in other’s emotional bank accounts. When conflicts arise, I look for options that work for both sides. Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking. Habit 6: Synergize I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than any one of us alone. I am humble. Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw I take care of my body by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I take my time to find meaningful ways to help others.

11. I LOVE STARBUCKS It’s a Win Win

12. PE M-W-F Tennis shoes required Physical Fitness Testing – In May Mile Run, push-ups, curl-ups, flexibility Good Hygiene – Deodorant Needed

13. BYOD (Bring your own device) Students are allowed to bring their own device to class. This includes: Smart phone Tablet Laptop These devices will be used as research tools only. Students using their device for any other reason than school work will lose the privilege of BYOD. Students are responsible for their own device. I will lock our door each time we leave the room, but ultimately it is up to the child to keep their device safe.

14. Connect with OME Did you join OME’s Facebook page Have you visited the school’s website? When was the last Hawk Talk you watched? You have access to your child’s Study Island, RAZ Kids, and AR OME has a before school breakfast program – Breakfast begins at 7:00 a.m. $1.25 or.30 (reduce fee)

15. OME PTA/BOOSTER Join Today Room Parent Fundraisers Assemblies Volunteers

16. Thank You! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.